Scientists discover fossils of oldest known potential pollinators

Remains of earwig-like insects discovered near village of Chekarda, Russia, covered in pollen

Nearly 200m years before the mosquito in Jurassic Park became trapped in amber, hundreds of ancient insects were encased in sediment along the bank of the Sylva river that flows through the Urals.

Now, scientists inspecting the flattened creatures have found a handful that appear to mark a moment in history: they are the oldest known insects to be covered in pollen, and perhaps some of the world's first plant pollinators.